Facts

Visit the Elections Page

During the eight-day early voting period that ended Saturday, 5,690 ballots were cast — more than ever before for a local primary election, Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter said Monday.

Carpenter's office also had processed 7,913 absentee ballots as of Monday afternoon, and another 900 were waiting to be processed, she said. Voters can still turn in their absentee ballots, which the Supervisor of Elections Office must receive by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Over the years, the office has seen a steady increase in the use of early voting and voting by mail, Carpenter explained. “Our voters really seem to appreciate the opportunity to have flexibility when it comes to casting their ballot,” she said.

For voters who waited to vote on Election Day, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Historically, voter turnout for a primary election like this is in the 30-percent range, which is what Carpenter expects for this one. The weather is supposed to be sunny and bright, she said, so there are no excuses not to come out and vote.

The Republican primary between U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho and local attorney Jake Rush is among the key races that will be decided today. For the Democrats, the marquee race is the gubernatorial primary between former governor Charlie Crist, a one-time Republican, and Nan Rich, a former state legislator.

Two Alachua County Commission seats — Districts 2 and 4 — both have Democratic primaries. The District 2 race between longtime County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson and newcomer Harvey Ward Jr. is particularly notable because there isn't a Republican challenger. Whoever wins will only face write-in candidate Harry Patterson, a member of the Green Party of Florida, for the seat.

Meanwhile, Democrats Ken Cornell and Kevin Thorpe are vying for the nomination for the District 4 seat. Whoever wins that spot will run against Republican John Martin in the Nov. 4 general election.

Other local races include those for judge and the Alachua County School Board.

Three local lawyers are seeking an open seat on the Alachua County Court bench in a nonpartisan race that is open to all voters: Susanne Wilson Bullard, AuBroncee Martin and Jose Moreno. If no one wins the seat with 50 percent of the vote plus one, the top two finishers will face each other in November.

The race for 8th Circuit Judge Group 11 features William Falik challenging incumbent Judge William E. Davis.

Incumbent and current School Board chairman Gunnar Paulson will face Philoron Wright, who is running for the School Board for the first time in the nonpartisan District 3 campaign, while candidates Rob Hyatt and Jancie Vinson are both seeking for the District 5 seat.

If elected, it would be Hyatt and Vinson's first time serving on the School Board. Incumbent School Board member April Griffin has run unopposed for the District 1 seat.

<p>While many local residents will head to the polls today to vote in the primary election, the Alachua County already has had a record-breaking election in terms of early voting.</p><p>During the eight-day early voting period that ended Saturday, 5,690 ballots were cast — more than ever before for a local primary election, Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter said Monday.</p><p>Carpenter's office also had processed 7,913 absentee ballots as of Monday afternoon, and another 900 were waiting to be processed, she said. Voters can still turn in their absentee ballots, which the Supervisor of Elections Office must receive by 7 p.m. Tuesday.</p><p>Over the years, the office has seen a steady increase in the use of early voting and voting by mail, Carpenter explained. “Our voters really seem to appreciate the opportunity to have flexibility when it comes to casting their ballot,” she said.</p><p>For voters who waited to vote on Election Day, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.</p><p>Historically, voter turnout for a primary election like this is in the 30-percent range, which is what Carpenter expects for this one. The weather is supposed to be sunny and bright, she said, so there are no excuses not to come out and vote.</p><p>The Republican primary between U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho and local attorney Jake Rush is among the key races that will be decided today. For the Democrats, the marquee race is the gubernatorial primary between former governor Charlie Crist, a one-time Republican, and Nan Rich, a former state legislator.</p><p>Two Alachua County Commission seats — Districts 2 and 4 — both have Democratic primaries. The District 2 race between longtime County Commissioner Lee Pinkoson and newcomer Harvey Ward Jr. is particularly notable because there isn't a Republican challenger. Whoever wins will only face write-in candidate Harry Patterson, a member of the Green Party of Florida, for the seat.</p><p>Meanwhile, Democrats Ken Cornell and Kevin Thorpe are vying for the nomination for the District 4 seat. Whoever wins that spot will run against Republican John Martin in the Nov. 4 general election.</p><p>Other local races include those for judge and the Alachua County School Board.</p><p>Three local lawyers are seeking an open seat on the Alachua County Court bench in a nonpartisan race that is open to all voters: Susanne Wilson Bullard, AuBroncee Martin and Jose Moreno. If no one wins the seat with 50 percent of the vote plus one, the top two finishers will face each other in November.</p><p>The race for 8th Circuit Judge Group 11 features William Falik challenging incumbent Judge William E. Davis.</p><p>Incumbent and current School Board chairman Gunnar Paulson will face Philoron Wright, who is running for the School Board for the first time in the nonpartisan District 3 campaign, while candidates Rob Hyatt and Jancie Vinson are both seeking for the District 5 seat.</p><p>If elected, it would be Hyatt and Vinson's first time serving on the School Board. Incumbent School Board member April Griffin has run unopposed for the District 1 seat.</p>